The Boston College women’s lacrosse team is going to the NCAA Tournament. Midfielder Mikaela Rix has had a successful sophomore campaign and is likely to play a key role in the Eagles’ run to a national title. A nominee for the Tewaaraton Award, Rix is second on the team with 54 points (46 goals, eight assists). During BC’s loss to UNC in the ACC semifinals, she tallied the 100th point of her career in only her 36th game and became the 14th member of BC’s 100-point club. An offensive catalyst, she also plays a solid defensive game and is second on the team with 27 ground balls. Conte Confidential caught up with Rix to talk about the NCAA Tournament, being a Tewaaraton nominee and more.

1) What are your expectations for the NCAA Tournament? Can you see the team winning a national championship?

I have high expectations for our team in the NCAA Tournament. We have had a great two weeks in order to be better prepared for our opponents, and I am confident that we have the potential to make it to the final four and win a national championship.

2) What’s the key for you to beat Dartmouth? What about Syracuse? [The Eagles play Dartmouth Friday at 4 p.m. The winner advances to play No. 4 Syracuse.]

We have to play together as a team on all ends of the field. Starting from the draw, we need to play aggressively and have to be ready for everything. As long as we play together on offense and defense, we will be very successful on Friday and then again on Saturday.

3) You are one of 25 nominees for the Tewaaraton Award, college lacrosse’s highest honor. What does this mean to you?

I was surprised to be added to the list. It is such an incredible honor to be considered one of the top players in the country and to be among the ranks of players such as Katie Schwarzmann (Maryland) and Kara Cannizzaro (UNC) who are incredible middies that we have played against this season. I am so honored to be apart of this talented group of players.

4) What has made you such an effective player for BC this year?

Playing together as a team has made me such a successful player this year. Without my teammates, I would not have the opportunities on the field to score or make a defensive stop. [Coaches] Acacia [Walker], Alex [Frank] and Jen [Kent] also have helped my game improve so much this season all over the field. With their watchful eye, I have been able to take my game to the next level.

I think that we have an extremely successful offense. We are smart and poised with the ball and take every opportunity that we have to score a goal or take a great shot. Our defense has improved so much throughout this season and has definitely become one of our strengths over the past several weeks towards the end of the regular season.

6) The team is pretty young this season. What’s the most challenging thing about being such a young team?

Having a young team is extremely difficult. With several freshmen starting on the field for the first time in a college game, it was hard to adjust at first. I know that I had a tough time last year, but, with great leaders in our captains and seniors, they made the adjustment easy. This year, it had to be all of us working together towards a common goal of improving everyday to reach our ultimate goal of a national championship.

7) You and Covie Stanwick are two of the best players to come through the program. [Stanwick, a fellow sophomore, leads BC with 82 points (60 goals, 22 assists). She also tallied her 100th career point earlier this season.] What’s your relationship like? Are you competitive? Do you support each other?

It has been so awesome to get to play with Covie. She is such a smart player and is so reliable. She knows when to take a shot and when I need a break from running the midfield. She is one of my best friends here, and we are roommates this year and we will be next year. Covie and I are both very competitive people so naturally we do compete against each other everyday in practice, but we are very supportive of each other as well.

8) Can you talk a little about Sarah Mannelly and her influence as a freshman? [Mannelly is third on the team with 45 points (33 goals, 12 assists).]

Sarah has had such a great impact on our team this year. She stepped up from day one and has had a tremendous impact on the field. She is such a skilled player and will be a key player for us throughout the NCAA Tournament and for the years to come.